Thy rod and Thy staff

Can you imagine the fear you would have if you were told to "pick up a snake" by the tail? I would have run right along with Moses - probably way ahead of him! I read that "serpent magic" was practiced in Egypt from ancient times whereby a snake is made rigid by hypnotism so that it could be picked up by the tail. But here God reverses this and with His mighty power turns a dry rod into a snake and then back again into a dry rod. (Is this what you call a "hot rod"?) The words in Psalm 23 came to me - "Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me." I believe that each time Moses held that rod in his hand, he remembered how awesome and powerful was the God that was sending him out.



Moses objects to God's call with several excuses - "they will not believe me . . . I am not eloquent . . ." What are the excuses and objections that I give when I feel God calling me to do a task? Do we not do the same thing - maybe we use different words, but objections and excuses just the same. Then, God promises to send Aaron, his brother, to speak for him. Wonder how long it had been since Moses had seen Aaron - years probably - and don't you just know their reunion was joyful.


On to Egypt they go, and then the bad turns to worse. Isn't that often the case? The first audience with Pharaoh fails when Moses asks that the people be allowed to leave for three days; the taskmasters take away the straw for making bricks; and it makes the work more difficult for the children of Israel. Moses questions God with the "why" - questions that we all ask, and God explains his "new name" to Moses - the LORD (YHWH) - "I Am Who I Am" or "I Will Be What I Will Be." Could we but remember the power in that name. The LORD is whatever we need at any time, any place, or anywhere. He is all sufficient for "His strength is made perfect in weakness."


Stay tuned - more miracles are on the way.